Multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus and multilayer disk bonding method

ABSTRACT

There are provided a multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus and method, capable of computing a rotational eccentricity of a disc with no contact with the disc and a high accuracy, and producing the disc with less costs without having to rotate the disc or any complicated operations. The multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus ( 100 ) is a one for manufacturing a multilayer disc by bonding one disc ( 220 ) to another disc ( 210 ). The apparatus includes means for fixing, in place, one ( 220 ) of the discs which form together a multilayer disc, means ( 150 ) for projecting a light onto a boundary ( 223 ) between an embossed signal recording area ( 221 ) and non-signal recording area on the one disc ( 220 ) fixed in place, means ( 140 ) for capturing a return light from the boundary ( 223 ) illuminated with the light projected from the light projecting means ( 150 ), means ( 131 ) for positioning the center of a signal recording area on the other disc ( 210 ) and means ( 110 ) for varying the position of the centering means ( 131 ) in relation to the disc fixing means.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a manufacturing apparatus and method for a multilayer disc such as an optical recording medium or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The multilayer structure made of multiple discs is used in an optical recording medium for example, and more specifically, in the so-called DVD (digital versatile or video disc) and the like.

[0003] Such a multilayer disc is formed by bonding multiple discs together with their central holes being centered to each other.

[0004] More particularly, two discs are held by different holders, respectively, central holes in the discs are centered with each other, and then the discs are bonded with a glue to each other. The multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus has a common centering pin to center the discs at their central holes with each other. Namely, the centering pin is introduced into the central holes in the two discs to make the central holes concentric with each other for aligning the discs at the central holes thereof with each other.

[0005] When the centering pin is thus used to align the two discs at their central holes with each other, a fitting clearance will take place without fail between the inner wall of each of the central holes and the centering pin. Since the clearance varies from one radial direction of another of the centering pin in each of the discs, such a clearance error will result in an eccentricity of the rotation center of each misalignment between the rotation centers of the discs bonded to each other.

[0006] The eccentricity of the rotation center of each disc is called “rotational eccentricity”. If the rotational eccentricity exceeds a given range, there will result a defective multilayer disc from which a signal detector cannot detect any recorded signal.

[0007] To avoid the above, two discs have to be bonded to each other for the rotational eccentricity to fall within a given range in which the signal detector can detect signals from the discs.

[0008] However, as the number of discs in a multilayer disc is increased, the above rotational eccentricity will be cumulated and cannot be maintained to fall within the given range.

[0009] Also, in the case of a “DVR (digital video recording)” disc incorporating multiple discs one of which is formed from a sheet-shaped disc smaller in thickness than the other disc, the centering pin fitted in the central hole formed in the thin sheet-shaped disc will possibly damage the latter.

[0010] Further, the rotational eccentricity is conventionally computed based on a maximum run-out of the disc being actually rotated. Therefore, to rotate the disc for this purpose, the multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus has to include a disc rotating mechanism and rotation guide mechanism, which will add to the complexity of the apparatus, thus resulting in the size and costs of the apparatus.

[0011] Rotating the disc actually as above will increase the tact time and thus increase the manufacturing costs for the multilayer disc.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Accordingly, the present invention has an object to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing a multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus and method, capable of computing the rotational eccentricity of a disc with no contact with the disc and a high accuracy, and producing the disc with less costs without having to rotate the disc or any complicated operations.

[0013] The above object can be attained by providing an apparatus for manufacturing a multilayer disc by bonding one disc to another disc, as set forth in claim 1 given later, the apparatus including according to the present invention:

[0014] means for fixing the one disc in place;

[0015] means for projecting a light onto a boundary between an embossed signal recording area and non-signal recording area on the one disc fixed in place;

[0016] means for capturing a return light from the boundary illuminated with the light projected from the light projecting means;

[0017] means for positioning the center of a signal recording area on the other disc; and

[0018] means for varying the position of the centering means in relation to the disc fixing means.

[0019] In the above apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the light is projected onto the boundary between the embossed signal recording area and non-signal recording area with the one disc being fixed by the disc fixing means. The light incident upon the boundary is reduced in intensity along the axis of the light due to a reflection at, or transmission through, the embossed signal recording area under a phenomenon of diffraction.

[0020] By capturing a return light reduced in intensity and a one not reduced in intensity by the return light capturing means, the center of the signal recording area on the one disc can be computed.

[0021] Based on the thus computed center of the signal recording area on the one disc, the relative position varying means is moved. Then, the center of the signal recording area on the one disc is made coincident with that of the signal recording area on the other disc to compute the rotational eccentricity of the one disc with no contact with the disc and a high accuracy and thus accurately limit the rotational eccentricity of the multilayer disc to fall within a given range.

[0022] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 given later, wherein in the construction as set forth in claim 1, the disc fixing means should preferably be a suction unit to fix the one disc by suction, the centering means be a centering pin, and the relative position varying means be a biaxial stage laid in a plane parallel with the one disc.

[0023] Also, in the construction as set forth in claim 2, the disc fixing means is a suction unit to fix the one disc by suction. It can fix the one disc easily and positively. The centering means is a centering pin capable of positioning also the center of the other disc easily and positively. Further, the relative position varying means is a biaxial stage laid in a plane parallel with the one disc. By moving the stage biaxially, the one disc can be moved easily and positively.

[0024] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 given later, wherein in the construction as set forth in claim 2, the centering pin should preferably have a taper portion whose diameter is smaller towards the free end thereof.

[0025] In the construction as set forth in claim 3, the taper portion of the centering pin, whose diameter is smaller towards the free end thereof, permits to position the other disc for no fitting clearance to take place between the inner wall of the central hole, for example, and the centering pin. Thus, the rotational eccentricity of the other disc can be minimized.

[0026] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 4 given later, wherein in the construction as set forth in claim 2, multiple centering pins of different diameters are available.

[0027] In the construction as set forth in claim 4, the multiple centering pins of difference diameters are compatible with multiple types of the other disc having central holes different in inside diameter from each other.

[0028] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 given later, wherein in the construction as set forth in claim 1, the light projecting means projects light generally vertically onto the surface of the one disc and the return light capturing means captures a return light generally vertically reflected from the surface of the one disc.

[0029] In the construction as set forth in claim 5, a difference in amount of light reflected under the phenomenon of diffraction in the signal recording area can accurately be captured even when a signal in the embossed signal recording area of the one disc is densely recorded with narrow track pitches and the one disc is a translucent low-reflection sheet for example.

[0030] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a. multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 given later, wherein in the construction as set forth in claim 1, the one disc is a sheet-shaped disc while the other disc is a substrate-like disc, and the sheet-shaped disc is formed thinner than the substrate-like disc.

[0031] In the construction as set form in claim 6, the sheet-shaped disc, easily damageable, is centered not by the central hole formed therein and the centering pin, so that the sheet-shaped disc itself will not possibly be damaged at all as with the prior art.

[0032] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a method for manufacturing a multilayer disc by bonding one disc to another disc, as set forth in claim 7 given later, the method including, according to the present invention, steps of:

[0033] fixing the one disc in place by a fixing means;

[0034] projecting, by a light projecting means, a light onto a boundary between an embossed signal recording area and non-signal recording area on the one disc fixed in place;

[0035] capturing, by a return light capturing means, a return light from the boundary illuminated with the light projected from the light projecting means;

[0036] determining the center of the signal recording area on the one disc based information as to the signal recording area, acquired in the return light capturing step;

[0037] moving means for varying the position of means for positioning the center of the signal recording area on the other disc in relation to the disc fixing means in order to align the center of the signal recording area of the one disc, determined in the area center determining step, with the centering means; and

[0038] bonding the one disc and other disc to each other.

[0039] In the above method as set forth in claim 7, the light is projected onto the embossed signal recording area on the one disc with the one disc being fixed by the disc fixing means. The incident light is reduced in intensity along the axis of the light due to a reflection at, or transmission through, the embossed signal recording area under a phenomenon of diffraction.

[0040] In the return light capturing step in which a return light reduced in intensity and a one not reduced in intensity are captured and area center determining step, the center of the signal recording area on the one disc can be computed.

[0041] To align the center of the signal recording area on the one disc, determined in the area center determining step with the centering means for positioning the center of the signal recording area on the other disc, the center of the signal recording area on the one disc is made coincident with that of the signal recording area on the other disc in the relative position varying means moving step to correct the rotational eccentricity.

[0042] In the disc bonding step, the one disc and other disc are boned to each other.

[0043] Thus, the rotational eccentricity of the one disc can be computed with no contact with the disc and a high accuracy, and the rotational eccentricity of the multilayer disc can be limited accurately to fall within a given range.

[0044] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a multilayer disc manufacturing method as set forth in claim 8 given later, wherein in the method as set forth in claim 7, the return light capturing means include multiple CCD cameras and the rotational eccentricity is computed based on the information captured by the multiple cameras in the area center determining step.

[0045] In the method as set forth in claim 8, the rotational eccentricity can be computed with a higher accuracy. Therefore, the rotational eccentricity can be corrected with a higher accuracy.

[0046] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a multilayer disc manufacturing method as set forth in claim 9 given later, wherein in the method as set forth in claim 7, the light projecting means projects light generally vertically onto the surface of the one disc and the return light capturing means captures a return light generally vertically reflected from the surface of the one disc.

[0047] Also, the above object can be attained by providing a multilayer disc manufacturing method as set forth in claim 10 given later, wherein in the method as set forth in claim 7, the one disc is a sheet-shaped disc while the other disc is a substrate-like disc, and the sheet-shaped disc is formed thinner than the substrate-like disc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

[0049]FIG. 2A is a schematic sectional view of a DVR disc produced by the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

[0050]FIG. 2B is a schematic sectional view, partially enlarged in scale, of the signal recording layer shown in FIG. 2A.

[0051]FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the alignment stage etc. shown in FIG. 1.

[0052]FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a centering pin etc. shown in FIG. 3.

[0053]FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the alignment stage, moving station, etc. shown in FIG. 3.

[0054]FIG. 6A is a schematic perspective view of the sheet-shaped disc, substrate and substrate reference pin.

[0055]FIG. 6B is a schematic sectional view of the substrate reference pin shown in FIG. 6A.

[0056]FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the optical path of the light from the halogen lamp.

[0057]FIG. 8 shows a flow of operations made to adjust the position of the CCD camera in relation to the centering pin.

[0058]FIG. 9 is schematic plan view of the reference substrate and CCD camera.

[0059]FIG. 10A shows a display, on the image monitor, of a CCD camera-captured image of a boundary.

[0060]FIG. 10B schematically illustrates the light reflection and return light.

[0061]FIG. 11 shows a flow of operations made for positional alignment of the sheet-shaped disc.

[0062]FIG. 12 explains the sheet-shaped disc positioned on the sheet chuck.

[0063]FIG. 13 schematically illustrates the relation between the CCD camera and sheet-shaped disc.

[0064]FIG. 14 shows a flow of operations made in bonding a substrate and sheet-shaped disc to each other.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0065] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail.

[0066] Note that since the best mode for carrying out the present invention, which will be described in the following, is a preferred embodiment, so various preferable limitations are applied thereto. The technical scope of the present invention is not of course limited to the best mode unless the present invention is otherwise limited.

[0067] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated in the form of a perspective view the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. The DVR disc is a multilayer disc. The apparatus is generally indicated with a reference 100.

[0068] The DVR disc manufacturing apparatus 100 produces a DVR (digital video recording) disc constructed as shown in FIG. 2A. The DVR disc is generally indicated with a reference 200 in FIG. 2A.

[0069]FIG. 2A is a schematic sectional view of the DVR disc 200, and FIG. 2B is a schematic sectional view, partially enlarged in scale, of a signal recording layer shown in FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2A, the DVR disc 200 includes two discs of which the one is a substrate 210 having a thickness of 0.3 to 1.2 mm for example. On the upper side of the substrate 210, there is formed an emboss 221 as a signal recording layer as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0070] Further, a reflecting layer L0 is formed on the emboss 211 as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0071] On the other hand, the other disc of the DVR disc 200 is a sheet-shaped disc 220 having a thickness of 44 to 114 μm for example. As shown in FIG. 2B, the sheet-shaped disc 220 has an emboss 221 as a signal recording layer formed on the lower surface thereof, and a translucent layer L1 provided on the lower surface of the emboss 221.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 2B, the substrate 210 and sheet-shaped disc 220 are bonded to each other with a glue layer provided between them.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 2A, the substrate 210 has a circular hole 212 formed in the center thereof, and also the sheet-shaped disc 220 has a circular hole 222 formed in the center thereof.

[0074] As will be seen, the central hole 222 in the sheet-shaped disc 220 is shaped to have a larger diameter than that of the central hole 212 in the substrate 210 for the reason that a centering pin is closely fitted in the central hole 212 to position the DVR disc 200 while the central hose 222 in the sheet-shaped disc 220 has to have a larger diameter than that of the centering pin in order to prevent the sheet-shaped disc 220 itself from being damaged due to possible contact of the inner wall of the central hole 222 with the centering pin.

[0075] Since the DVR disc 200 thus constructed is composed of the substrate 210 and sheet-shaped disc 220 bonded to each other, a bonding machine will be required to produce the DVR disc 200.

[0076] The DVR disc manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is this bonding machine.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 1, the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus 100 includes an alignment stage 110 as a positioning means. On the alignment stage 110, there is provided a circular sheet chuck 111 on which the sheet-shaped disc 220 of the DVR disc 200 shown in FIG. 2B is to be mounted.

[0078] The sheet-shaped disc 220 placed on the sheet chuck 222 is securely fixed to the sheet chuck 111 under a negative pressure (vacuum) applied through a vacuum suction hole leading to a vacuumization suction unit.

[0079] Also, under the alignment stage 110, there is provided a moving station 120 which moves the alignment stage 110 within the apparatus.

[0080] The geometric relation among the sheet chuck 111, alignment stage 110, moving station 120, etc. will be seen from the schematic sectional view in FIG. 3. Also, the geometric relation among the alignment stage 110, moving station 120, etc. in FIG. 3 is also shown in the schematic perspective view in FIG. 5.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 3, the alignment stage 110 includes an X-axis table 112 movable in the X-axial direction, namely, in the horizontal (right-left) direction as shown in FIG. 1. As also shown in FIG. 3, there is provided under the X-axis table 112 a Y-axis table 113 movable in the Y-axial direction, namely, in the back-and-forth direction as will be seen from FIG. 1.

[0082] Further, nearly in the center of these X- and Y-axis stages 112 and 113 is formed a through-hole 114 in which there is provided a cylindrical center post 130 fixed at the base thereof to the moving station 120. The center post 130 has provided at the top thereof a centering pin 131 whose diameter is smaller than that of the center post 130.

[0083] The centering pin 131 placed in the through-hole 114 is fixed to the moving station 120 by means of the center post 130. The X- and Y-axis tables 112 and 113 surrounding the center post 130 are movable in the X- and Y-axial directions.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet chuck 111 is mounted on the X-axis stage 112. Therefore, if the centering pin 131 introduced in the central hole 222 in the sheet-shaped disc 220 mounted on the sheet chuck 111 is not centered with the central hole 222, it can be centered with the central hole 222 by moving the X- and Y-axis stages 112 and 113 to change the position of the sheet-shaped disc 220 in relation to the centering pin 131.

[0085] The above relation between the centering pin 131 and sheet chuck 111 etc. is shown in the schematic sectional view in FIG. 4 showing the geometric relation among the centering pin 131, sheet chuck 111, sheet-shaped disc 220 and substrate 210.

[0086] Also, FIG. 4 shows the sheet-shaped disc 220 and substrate 210 which are not yet bonded with the glue layer to each other and are thus separate from each other.

[0087] To keep the sheet-shaped disc 220 and substrate 210 separate from each other in positioning them, there are provided substrate supporting pins 400 as shown in FIG. 6A.

[0088] As will be seen from FIG. 6A, the substrate supporting pins 400 are disposed for supporting the substrate 210 at the outer circumference to assure a gap between the sheet-shaped disc 220 and substrate 210 so that the sheet-shaped disc 220 and substrate 210 will not be in contact with each other before they are bonded to each other.

[0089]FIG. 6B shows the construction of the substrate supporting pin 400 in detail. As shown, the substrate supporting pin 400 moves along the outer circumference of the substrate 210. When bonding the substrate 210 to the sheet-shaped disc 220, a silicon rubber pad 115 (will be described in detail later) is put in contact with the central portion of the substrate 210 in a sequence from the central portion to the outer circumference of the latter because of a spring provided in each of the substrate supporting pins.

[0090] Also, when the substrate 210 is bonded to the sheet-shaped disc 220 under the pressure of a silicon rubber pad 115 as will be described in detail later, the spring will fall in the lower direction as will be seen from FIG. 6A.

[0091] Since the centering pin 131 is shaped to have a generally same diameter as that of the central hole 212 in the substrate 210 as shown in FIG. 4, the central pin 131 can be fitted in the substrate 210.

[0092] As best shown in FIG. 4, the centering pin 131 has a taper portion 131 a whose diameter is smaller than that of the centering pin 131.

[0093] Since the taper portion 131 a has a diameter which is smaller towards the top end of the centering pin 131, it serves as a guide for fitting the centering pin 131 into the central hole 212 in the substrate 210. Therefore, the centering pin 131 can easily be fitted into the central hole 212 in the substrate 210.

[0094] There are available multiple centering pins 131 different in diameter from each other, any appropriate one of which is to be selected according to the diameter of a substrate 210 going to be in pair with the sheet-shaped disc 220. The centering pins 131 have diameters different from one to another in steps of 10 μm, for example.

[0095] Above the alignment stage 110 constructed as above, there are provided four CCD cameras 140 for example as shown in FIG. 1. These CCD cameras 140 are disposed diagonally of the sheet-shaped disc 220 mounted on the sheet chuck 111, for example.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided below each of the CCD cameras 140 a micro lenses 141 to guide the light from a halogen lamp 150 as an illuminating means vertically onto the sheet-shaped disc 220 as indicated with an arrow A in FIG. 7.

[0097] The light reflected at the surface of the sheet-shaped disc 220 is guided as a return light to the CCD camera 140 as indicated with an arrow B. Thus, the light is captured by the CCD camera 140.

[0098] An image captured by the CCD camera 140 is displayed on an image monitor 160 shown in FIG. 1.

[0099] It should be noted that near the image monitor 160, there are provided a touch-panel control/display panel 170, a chuck vacuum indicator 180 to indicate the evacuation of the vacuum suction hole provided in the sheet chuck 111.

[0100] Further, there are provided a mains pilot lamp 190 and emergency stop button 191.

[0101] In the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus 100, the moving station 120 is disposed movably in the X-axial direction in FIG. 1. When the moving station 120 stays in the left portion of the apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 1, it is at an alignment station 121 a where the position of the sheets-shaped disc 220 on the sheet chuck 111 is to be adjusted. When the moving station 120 is moved to the middle portion of the apparatus 100, it will come onto a charge/discharge station 121 b where the sheet-shaped disc 220 and substrate 210 are to be mounted onto, or removed from, the sheet chuck 111. When the moving station 120 is further moved to the right portion of the apparatus 100, it will come onto a bonding/pressing station 121 c where the substrate 210 is to be bonded to the sheet-shaped disc 220 on the sheet chuck 111 with a glue layer placed between them.

[0102] For the above bonding process, there are provided, as shown in FIG. 1, above the bonding/pressing station 121 c the silicon rubber pad 115 and a vertical pressing shaft 116, by which the sheet-shaped disc 220 and substrate 210 are pressed to each other, thereby producing a DVR disc 200.

[0103] The DVR disc manufacturing apparatus 100 constructed as above operates as will be described below:

[0104] First, the position of the CCD camera 140 in relation to the centering pin 131 is adjusted. Namely, the moving station 120 is moved to the charge/discharge station 121 b shown in FIG. 1.

[0105] Then, in step ST1 in the flow chart in FIG. 8, a centering pin 131 of an appropriate diameter is selected which can be fitted in a central hole formed in a positioning reference plate 310 (in FIG. 9) for the CCD camera 140.

[0106] Specifically, a centering pin 131 having a diameter with which a difference between the diameter of the centering pin 131 and that of the central hole in the reference plate 310, namely, a clearance error, is 10 μm or less.

[0107] A centering pin 131 of φ15 is selected for example. It should be noted that the reference plate 310 has an embossed signal recording area on the surface thereof.

[0108] Next, the reference plate 310 is mounted on the sheet chuck 111 shown in FIG. 3. Then, the moving station 120 is moved to the alignment station 121 a in FIG. 1.

[0109] With the moving station 120 at the alignment station 121 a, the light from the halogen lamp 150 shown in FIG. 7 is projected onto the surface of the reference plate 310 and a return light from the reference plate surface is captured by the CCD camera 140, which is shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, the light is projected onto the boundary between an embossed signal recording area 311A on the reference plate 310 and a non-signal recording area 311B around the area 311A, and an observation area 140 a is captured by the CCD camera 140.

[0110] The CCD cameras 140 and micro lenses 141 are placed so that the observation areas 140 a are regularly positioned at intervals of 90 deg. as shown in FIG. 9.

[0111] A return light from the reference plate 310 is captured by the four CCD cameras 140. FIG. 10A shows a display, on an image monitor 160, of the result of return light capture. As shown in FIG. 10A, the display on the image monitor 160 consists of a bright left half and a dark right half.

[0112] Because the embossed signal recording area 311A illuminated by the light from the halogen lamp 150 provides a primary or secondary diffraction of the incident light, as shown in FIG. 10B, so that the intensity of the return light is reduced, resulting in such a dark right half of the display on the image monitor 160 as shown in FIG. 10A.

[0113] On the contrary, the non-signal recording area 311B, not embossed, does not diffract the incident light from the halogen lamp 150 as the embossed signal recording area 311A, so that the incident light will be reflected directly, and captured, not reduced in intensity, by the CCD camera 140. Thus, the return light from the non-signal recording area 311B results in such a bright left half of the display on the image monitor 160 as shown in FIG. 10A.

[0114] The above difference in darkness (or brightness) makes clear a boundary 312 between the signal recording area 311A and non-signal recording area 311B, and so the boundary 312 can be definitely recognized on the image monitor 160.

[0115] As shown in FIG. 9, the boundary 312 is captured in the four observation areas 140 a and its images are stored as positional information in a storage unit.

[0116] Thereafter, the reference plate 310 is turned 30 deg., the boundary 312 is captured again in the four observation areas 140 a, and its images are stored again into the storage unit.

[0117] By repeating the above procedure several times, it is possible to acquire eccentricity information as to the reference plate 310 itself. The four CCD cameras 140 are positioned based on the eccentricity information to be equidistant from the centering pin 131. The above procedure is taken in step ST2 in FIG. 8. When the four CCD cameras 140 are equidistant from the centering pin 131, they are in their respective reference positions.

[0118] Then in step ST3 in FIG. 8, the reference positions of the CCD cameras 140 are stored as data. More specifically, data in an internal memory in the image monitor 160 will be updated and data processing-side PLC (programmable logic controller) parameters be set.

[0119] The above procedure is the adjustment of the positions of the CCD camera 140 with the centering pin 131. This procedure is taken only in the first step of the manufacturing process in which a substrate 210 of the same type is used, and may not be readjusted unless a substrate of any other type is to be used.

[0120] After the data on the reference positions of the CCD cameras 140 are acquired, the reference plate 310 is discharged from the charge/discharge station 121 b in FIG. 1.

[0121] Thereafter, the sheet-shaped disc 220 to actually be bonded to the substrate 210 is mounted on the sheet chuck 111.

[0122] Namely, in step ST4 in FIG. 11, the sheet-shaped disc 220 is placed on the sheet chuck 111 shown in FIG. 3, and more particularly, with the side of the sheet-shaped disc 220 on which the emboss 221 as a signal recording layer is formed being upside as shown in FIG. 12.

[0123] Since the central hole 212 in the sheet-shaped disc 220 is shaped to have a sufficiently larger diameter than that in the centering pin 131, the sheet-shaped disc 220 will not touch the centering pin 131 and so it will not be damaged.

[0124] Upon mounting of the sheet-shaped disc 220 in the sheet chuck 111, the vacuumization suction unit (not shown) is put into operation to start vaccumizing the vacuum suction hole provided in the sheet chuck 111. The sheet-shaped disc 220 will be fixed to the sheet chuck 111 with a high accuracy.

[0125] At this time, the sheet-shaped disc 220 being very thin as mentioned above is not mechanically chucked. So the disc 220 itself will not be damaged. The vacuumization is indication on the chuck vacuum indicator 180 shown in FIG. 1, and thus an optimum vacuum can always be maintained.

[0126] When the alignment stage 110 having the sheet-shaped disc 220 mounted thereon is on the alignment station 121 a, it is positioned under the CCD camera 140.

[0127]FIG. 13 shows the relation between the CCD camera 140 and sheet-shaped disc 220 in the above condition.

[0128] The four CCD cameras 140 are disposed so that the observation areas 140 a are regularly positioned at intervals of 90 deg. as shown in FIG. 13. Specifically, of the four CCD cameras 140, two Y1 and Y2 are disposed along the X-axis, while the other two X1 and X2 are disposed along the X-axis.

[0129] In FIG. 13, the solid line indicates a reference position stored as data which can be determined from the aforementioned reference plate 310, that is, the boundary 312 etc. on the reference plate 310.

[0130] The dashed line indicates a boundary 223 between the embossed signal recording area and non-signal recording area on the sheet-shaped disc 220.

[0131] Similarly to the reference plate 310, the sheet-shaped disc 220 is also illuminated at the boundary 223 thereof with the light from the halogen lamp 150 in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 7.

[0132] Conventionally, the light is projected obliquely. So, any difference in intensity between the reflected light from the non-signal recording area and that from the signal recording area, as shown in FIG. 10B, cannot be captured as a definite contrast by the CCD camera.

[0133] In this embodiment in which the light from the halogen lamp 150 is projected vertically, however, since the return light from the signal recording area is greatly reduced in intensity, a definite contrast can be captured by the CCD camera.

[0134] More particularly, when the light projected from the halogen lamp 150 is incident upon the boundary 223 at an angle of 0 deg., the difference in intensity (intensity of N-order diffracted light) between the reflected light from the signal recording area and that from the non-signal recording area is given by the following formula (1):

Pn=sin θn=N·λ/d  (1)

[0135] where N is the order of diffraction, θ is the angle of diffraction, λ is the wavelength and d is the lattice period.

[0136] In this embodiment, the track pitch of the sheet-shaped disc 220 is as small as 0.2 to 0.8 μm. Also, since the halogen lamp 150 is used to illuminate the sheet-shaped disc 220, the term λ/d in the formula (1) is approximately 1.0. Therefore, the primary angle of diffraction θ1 in FIG. 9 is nearly a right angle, so that the return light from the signal recording area will greatly be reduced.

[0137] Thus, the difference in intensity between the reflected light from the signal recording area and that from the non-signal recording area will be very large, resulting in such a definite contrast that the boundary 223 can distinctly be captured by the CCD camera 140.

[0138] By capturing the boundary 223 by the four CCD cameras 140, it is possible to recognize that the sheet-shaped disc 220 is disposed as indicated with the dashed line as shown in FIG. 13.

[0139] Comparison of the above position of the sheet-shaped disc 220 with the reference position (indicated with the solid line) of the reference plate 310, will make it clear that there is a large eccentricity between the positions as shown in FIG. 13. The eccentricity is measured in step ST5 in FIG. 11.

[0140] The above eccentricity is computed by following the procedure below:

[0141] The CCD camera 140 (Y1) in FIG. 13 is used to detect a portion, encircled, of the boundary 223 of the sheet-shaped disc 220.

[0142] Then, the difference between the result of this detection and the corresponding boundary 312 on the Y-axis in data having previously been acquired as a reference position (see FIG. 9) is taken as ΔY1 shown in FIG. 13.

[0143] Also, the CCD camera 140 (Y2) is used to detect a portion, encircled, of the boundary 312 of the reference plate 310. Then, the difference between the result of this detection and the corresponding boundary 312 on the Y-axis in data having previously been acquired as a reference position is taken as ΔY2.

[0144] Further, the CCD camera 140 (X1) is used to detect a portion, encircled, of the boundary 223 of the sheet-shaped disc 220. Then, the difference between the result of this detection and the corresponding boundary 223 on the X-axis in data having previously been acquired as a reference position is taken as ΔX1. Also, the CCD camera 140 (X2) is used to detect a portion, encircled, of the boundary 312 of the reference plate 310. Then, the difference between the result of this detection and the corresponding boundary 312 on the X-axis in data having previously been acquired as a reference position is taken as ΔX2.

[0145] From the data acquired as above, it is possible to compute an X-axial eccentricity ΔX in FIG. 13 as follows:

ΔX=(ΔX 1+ΔX 2)/2

[0146] Also, a Y-axial eccentricity ΔY can be computed as follows:

ΔY=(ΔY 1+ΔY 2)/2

[0147] Thus, the total eccentricity will be:

(½)·{square root}{square root over ( )}{(ΔX 1+ΔX 2)²+(ΔY 1+ΔY 2)²}

[0148] As above, the eccentricity can be determined by comparing, in position, the center (in the dash-line circle in FIG. 13) of the embossed signal recording area of the sheet-shaped disc 220 and that (in the solid-line circle in FIG. 13) of the reference plate 310.

[0149] As will be evident from the above formula, the position of the position can be computed without being influenced by any variation in diameter of the emboss 221 as a signal recording layer due to an expansion or shrinkage of the sheet material etc. of the sheet-shaped disc 220.

[0150] By comparing an eccentricity with a specified value falling within a permissible range based on information on a reference position, existence and amount of an eccentricity are determined in step ST6 in FIG. 11.

[0151] When the eccentricity is larger than the specified value, it is displayed on the image monitor 160 shown in FIG. 1, and the X- and Y-axial stages 112 and 113 of the alignment stage 110 are moved in step ST7.

[0152] More particularly, the X-axial stage 112 in FIG. 3 is moved by the value ΔX (in FIG. 13) while the Y-axial stage 113 is moved by the value ΔY (in FIG. 13).

[0153] At this time, since the centering pin 131 will not move even when the X- and Y-axial stages 112 and 113 are moved as above, the position of the boundary 223 of the sheet-shaped disc 220 in relation to the centering pin 131 can be changed similarly to the boundary 312 of the reference plate 310.

[0154] Since the above adjustment can be done easily and in a non-contact manner, the sheet-shaped disc 220 will not be damaged. Also, since the sheet-shaped disc 220 has not to be rotated or otherwise moved for determination of the eccentricity, which is different from the prior art, the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus may not be of any large scale and the tact time will not be increased.

[0155] After making the adjustment by moving the X- and Y-axial stages 112 and 113, the eccentricity is detected again in step ST5, and when the detected eccentricity is determined in step ST6 in FIG. 11 to be larger than the specified value, the X- and Y-axial stages 112 and 113 are moved again in step ST7.

[0156] After the above steps, when it is determined in step ST6 that the eccentricity is smaller than the specified value, the alignment of the sheet-shaped disc 220 with the substrate 210 is complete.

[0157] When the alignment procedure as in FIG. 11 is complete at the alignment station 121 a in FIG. 1, the alignment stage 110 having the sheet-shaped disc 220 mounted thereon is supplied with a substrate (210) to be bonded to the sheet-shaped disc 220 and moved to the bonding/pressing station 121 c shown in FIG. 1.

[0158] At the bonding/pressing station 121 c, the central hole 212 formed in the substrate 210 is positioned with reference to the centering pin 131 in FIG. 4 in step ST8 in FIG. 14. At this time, the substrate 210 is held 1 mm above the sheet-shaped disc 220.

[0159] Also, a bonding glue is laid on the top of the sheet-shaped disc 220 as in FIG. 4 or on the bottom of the substrate 210 as in FIG. 4.

[0160] Thereafter, the patting silicon rubber pad 115 being convex in the central portion thereof is used to press and bond the substrate 210 and sheet-shaped disc 220 with a bonding glue to each other under a given pressure and for a given resting time as shown in FIG. 1 (in step ST9 in FIG. 14), to thereby produce a multilayer DVR disc 200.

[0161] Having undergone predetermined processes after that, the DVR disc 200 is finished as shown in FIG. 2.

[0162] As above, in this embodiment, the “fitting clearance” resulted from the introduction of the centering pin 131 is used only for positioning the substrate 210, the eccentricity of the sheet-shaped disc 220 is detected, and the position of the disc 220 is adjusted, without any contact of the centering pin 131 with the disc 220. Thus, the multilayer disc can be produced with less overall internal eccentricity than ever.

[0163] Also, since an eccentricity of the embossed signal recording area of the sheet-shaped disc 220 can be directly computed and corrected, no pressure or weight will be applied to the sheet-shaped disc 220 which will thus not be damaged.

[0164] Also, since multiple centering pins 131 of different sizes are available, any appropriate one can be selected for positioning, so the error in positioning the substrate 210 can be reduced and thus the finished multilayer DVR disc 200 will have the overall internal eccentricity minimized, if any.

[0165] Further, since the center of the sheet-shaped disc 220 (enclosed in a dashed-line circle in FIG. 13) is computed with reference to the boundary 223 being the outermost circumference of the signal recording area, so the overall internal eccentricity rate of the finished DVR disc 200 can be minimized even if the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus 100 incurs a positioning error.

[0166] Further, since the multiple CCD cameras 140 fixed in place can be used to instantly compute a deviation from the reference position, so it is possible to compute an eccentricity of the sheet-shaped disc 220 in an extremely shorter time than required by the conventional method of detecting such an eccentricity of the sheet-shaped disc 220 being rotated.

[0167] Moreover, since such an eccentricity can be corrected at the alignment stage 110 while a new eccentricity is being computed, the eccentricity computation made this embodiment according to the present invention, when in combination with a feedback loop, allows to detect an eccentricity in a shorter time and with a higher accuracy.

[0168] If the internal eccentricity of the DVR disc 200 produced by the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present invention is known, it can be taken as a corrective value into the eccentricity correction loop to further reduce the eccentricity possibly taking place in the course of production in the DVR disc manufacturing apparatus.

[0169] Note that according to the embodiment, the boundary 223 being the outermost circumference of the signal recording area on the sheet-shaped disc 220 is captured by the CCD cameras 140, to which the present invention is not limited, but a boundary being the innermost circumference of the signal recording area may be so captured.

[0170] Also, the outermost circumferential area may be the lead-in signal recording area while the outermost circumferential area may be the lead-out signal recording area. That is, any boundary between a portion where an embossed signal recording area is provided and a one where such area is not provided, will do as the “boundary” referred to herein.

[0171] Note that the present invention is not limited to any of the aforementioned embodiments and variants but the embodiments and variants may be combined together to define the present invention.

[0172] Industrial Applicability

[0173] As having been described in the foregoing, the present invention can provide the multilayer disc manufacturing apparatus and method, capable of computing the rotational eccentricity of a disc with no contact with the disc and a high accuracy, and producing the disc with less costs without having to rotate the disc or any complicated operations. 

1. (Amended) an apparatus for manufacturing a multilayer disc by bonding one disc to another disc, the apparatus comprising: means for separating the one and other discs from each other and supporting the other disc at the outer circumference to cause a clearance between the discs; means for positioning the center of a signal recording area on the other disc in relation to a reference position; multiple means for projecting a light onto a boundary between an embossed signal recording area and non-signal recording area on the one disc fixed in place; multiple means for capturing a return light from the boundary illuminated with the light projected from the light projecting means; means for computing an eccentricity error of the one disc from the reference position based on a positional information as to the boundary, acquired by the return light capturing means; means for varying the position of the one disc in relation to the centering means to allow the eccentricity error of the one disc, computed by the computing means; and means for bonding the one and other discs to each other with them being put into sequential contact with each other from the center toward the outer circumference of them.
 2. (Amended) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the centering means is a centering pin; and the relative position varying means is a biaxial stage laid in a plane parallel with the one disc; the one disc being sucked to the biaxial stage by a suction unit being the disc fixing means.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the centering pin has a taper portion whose diameter is smaller towards the free end thereof.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein multiple centering pins of different diameters are available.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light projecting means projects light generally vertically onto the surface of the one disc and the return light capturing means captures a return light generally vertically reflected from the surface of the one disc.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the one disc is a sheet-shaped disc while the other disc is a substrate-like disc; and the sheet-shaped disc is formed thinner than the substrate-like disc.
 7. (Amended) A method for manufacturing a multilayer disc by bonding one disc to another disc, the method including steps of: separating the one and other discs from each other and supporting the other disc at the outer circumference to cause a clearance between the discs; projecting, by multiple light projecting means, a light onto a boundary between an embossed signal recording area and non-signal recording area on the one disc fixed in place; capturing, by multiple return light capturing means, a return light from the boundary illuminated with the light projected from the multiple light projecting means; determining the center of the signal recording area on the one disc based on a positional information as to the signal recording area, acquired in the return light capturing step; moving means for varying the relative position of means for positioning the center of the signal recording area on the other disc in relation to the one disc in order to align the center of the signal recording area of the one disc, determined in the area center determining step, with the centering means in relation to a reference position; and bonding the one disc and other disc to each other with them being put into sequential contact with each other from the center toward the outer circumference of them.
 8. (Amended) The method according to claim 7, wherein: the return light capturing means are cameras; and the rotational eccentricity is computed based on the information captured by the multiple cameras in the area center determining step.
 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein: the light projecting means projects light generally vertically onto the surface of the one disc; and the return light capturing means captures a return light generally vertically reflected from the surface of the one disc.
 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein: the one disc is a sheet-shaped disc while the other disc is a substrate-like disc; and the sheet-shaped disc is formed thinner than the substrate-like disc. 